Anonymous
Post 02/11/2015 08:23     Subject: Downton Abbey February 8, 2015 SPOILERS
Dr Clarkson had been in the military and ran the military hospital at Downton. I think he would have known a good deal about homosexual behavior and maybe have developed a kinder perspective than was the norm

During his comments, it occurred to me that Clarkson may be gay. He did ask Isobel to marry him but he may have thought she was too old to care about sex and would be his beard

The fact that he hasn't interfered in Lord Merton's pursuit of Isobel adds to that thought

I have always wanted Isobel and Clarkson to get together, but maybe there is a reason they haven't

Anonymous
Post 02/11/2015 07:55     Subject: Downton Abbey February 8, 2015 SPOILERS
I'm actually sort of tired of the dowagers one liners, but "oh, I thought that was a man wearing your clothes" was classic.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2015 07:50     Subject: Downton Abbey February 8, 2015 SPOILERS
Anonymous wrote:I love that I have someone to "talk" to about this show. This thread made my night yesterday.


+1
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2015 07:48     Subject: Downton Abbey February 8, 2015 SPOILERS
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I actually feel quite badly for Edith. Her story and treatment by her family members is so sad. I'm glad she took Marigold and hope things work out for her. Mary is very cruel to her and i don't get why.


In the first season, wasn't it Edith who "outed" Mary's indiscretion with the Turkish guy? I thought she had sent a letter or something of that sort, to the gossip column, indicating that Mary had slept with the Turk. And so Mary has always hated her for that. But maybe I'm wrong?


That was in retaliation for Mary's constant picking on her. It was still terrible, but they had already had a bad relationship.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2015 07:45     Subject: Downton Abbey February 8, 2015 SPOILERS
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What do you all think of the Thomas storyline?


I love the fact that Baxter has come to his rescue and he's warming to her. She seems like such a caring, thoughtful person. I like their new "friendship".


I do too.

As for the Thomas storyline, I just don't believe it:
1. I don't believe they showed Thomas to hate his sexuality before this. I don't understand why he wants to change. Not that it couldn't be true, but just that they haven't written this well. They've changed a pretty solid character into something more. I also think it's a bit of pandering to audiences to turn the gay villain into a kind of underdog hero.

2. While the doctor's words and perspectives were great, I also don't know that he would have been so wise and understanding at the time. It felt very anachronistic. More like moralizing for us than good storytelling.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2015 07:42     Subject: Downton Abbey February 8, 2015 SPOILERS
I love that I have someone to "talk" to about this show. This thread made my night yesterday.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2015 07:42     Subject: Downton Abbey February 8, 2015 SPOILERS
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why was Daisy so mean to Mosley when he 1) tried to engage her in what she was studying and then 2) when he tried to offer her a book to borrow? I don't get it at all. I know they smoothed it over with that third scene where he basically said, "it's too late for me but I'd like to do what I can to help you get out of here."

I don't thinking adding in another snippy character in the form of the DC's new maid (Danker?) is worthwhile at all. I just disliked her from the moment she came onto the scene. How was she not fired yet? Bizarre.


I also thought the dowager's new maid was a bit off-putting - she seemed far too overly familiar with the dowager. I think that will be a new storyline. Or maybe she'll bring a refreshing honesty and candor to conversations with the dowager. I truly dislike Violet's butler - such a prig.


I think the new maid is a sign of the changing times. A decade ago she probably would've been fired and sent off. But it's so hard to find a good lady's maid these days!
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2015 07:20     Subject: Downton Abbey February 8, 2015 SPOILERS
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Did anyone else think something bad was going to happen during the horse riding scene? I was almost disappointed that something didn't happen.

Bates is so annoying. Poor Anna. So, who did kill Green? Isn't it strange that is was on the same day that Bates had a ticket to London?

Please don't kill off Isis!


I agree. I can't fucking stand Bates. I want him knocked off so that Anna can be free to forge a modern life.


What's wrong with Bates? I love the man. He's so patient and kind to Anna loves her so much. They're perfect together.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2015 07:18     Subject: Downton Abbey February 8, 2015 SPOILERS
Anonymous wrote:I have only read half of page 1 of this thread. But....
ENOUGH ABOUT THE DOG ALREADY!

Seriously!!!!!!

Does the same person, every week say the dog is too old on page one and then never ever read the countless replies that this is in fact the second dog, the first one was named Pharoh- and then, even though someone has pointed this out, someone has to do all the math and say how many years have lapsed since the first episode and that the dog could not live that long ..., DUH! Someone just stated, this is not the same dog...

Can you people read??????


I have no dog in this fight, the dog is almost a nothing to the central plots, why do you people care sooooo much?


+1,000,000
It's more than a little bizarre the obsession some have with the dog!!!
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2015 07:14     Subject: Downton Abbey February 8, 2015 SPOILERS
Anonymous wrote:What do you all think of the Thomas storyline?


I love the fact that Baxter has come to his rescue and he's warming to her. She seems like such a caring, thoughtful person. I like their new "friendship".
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2015 07:13     Subject: Downton Abbey February 8, 2015 SPOILERS
Anonymous wrote:Has anyone ever heard of a child named Marigold?

But I digress


I think floral names for girls were quite popular at the time (and still are) -- Rose, Poppy, Daisy, Iris, Flora, etc.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2015 07:11     Subject: Downton Abbey February 8, 2015 SPOILERS
Anonymous wrote:
Yay for Edith!
You don't seem to realize what ladies of the aristocracy went through at the time to hide an illegitimate child. Remember that ours was not a child-centric society like today until after WWII. What horrifies us today, ie Marigold being torn from 2 loving families, would have been the natural consequences of being illegitimate and different family members doing what they considered best to hide the secret.
That scene with Mrs. Drew brought tears to my eyes, but it doesn't diminish Edith in my view.

I am happy that Edith is taking matters in her own hands for the first time. It takes some maturity and no small degree of courage to do what she is doing in the 1920s. I expect and hope that she will take over the publishing house and be a successful entrepreneur, end up openly living with Marigold as her daughter and heiress to that vast fortune, and make her way as an independent woman.



I agree with you, as horrible as that scene with Mrs. Drew was. I think Edith is going to be a wonderful mother; she already seems so much more interested and hands-on with Marigold than Mary ever has with George. I loved the last scene when the two of them are in the hotel room and you can just see how joyful she is to finally be with her daughter. She says something like, "And we're going to have such a jolly time." Brought tears to my eyes, even after bawling when she took Marigold from the Drews. Even though I wish she hadn't pulled Marigold from two (!) loving families, I still think ultimately she needs her daughter and I'm glad she finally took action for herself.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2015 07:09     Subject: Downton Abbey February 8, 2015 SPOILERS
7:04, Edith did that because the sisters already hated each other. So Mary's bitchiness precedes that.

I thought Atticus's family was hosting the racing event, so his parents could not be accused of just showing up there trying to social climb. I do think they conceived of and hosted the event as a social move, but that's fine. Atticus and Rose are sweet together. I wish some of that happiness could be Edith's!
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2015 07:06     Subject: Downton Abbey February 8, 2015 SPOILERS
Anonymous wrote:I felt bad for Edith too. I think some people don't realize how different an era it was.

Also I find the fact that Cora never guessed the truth -- after all the months Edith spent in Switzerland -- difficult to believe. In earlier parts of the series she acted like a decent mother. After losing Sybil, could she really be so totally clueless?


I agree completely. In fact, didn't Mary confide in Cora about sleeping with the Turk? Cora was furious, but ultimately understood and certainly didn't hold it against Mary. I think she even helped her cover it up. I really kept thinking during Sunday's episode that Edith would finally unload everything about Marigold to Cora and Cora would help. She does seem incredibly clueless about the entire situation.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2015 07:04     Subject: Downton Abbey February 8, 2015 SPOILERS
Anonymous wrote:I actually feel quite badly for Edith. Her story and treatment by her family members is so sad. I'm glad she took Marigold and hope things work out for her. Mary is very cruel to her and i don't get why.


In the first season, wasn't it Edith who "outed" Mary's indiscretion with the Turkish guy? I thought she had sent a letter or something of that sort, to the gossip column, indicating that Mary had slept with the Turk. And so Mary has always hated her for that. But maybe I'm wrong?